When you made the trip up north to visit your girlfriend the plan was to attend her sister’s graduation and party. During the course of the weekend, however, you worked in two different college baseball games. One of those games was the first ever Big 10 championship win for the state university. And while this may seem like a coincidence, the fact of the matter is you always have your eye out for an opportunity to attend any kind of sporting event.
From college championship baseball games to professional sports travel packages, there are many times when travelers can work in a stop at their favorite events while they are traveling for other purposes.
Are You Looking at an Upcoming World Cup Package?
If you are a real sports enthusiast you can always work out a way to attend your favorite sporting events while you are visiting friends and family. Aside from these nearly accidental opportunities, however, there are many intentional ways to make sure that you are taking in all of the latest sports happening. By working with a travel agent, for instance, you can book World Cup packages to PGA Masters events to any number of other professional or college happenings.
Although there are a wide range of sports that both players and spectators can enjoy, marketing research indicates that the five largest sports in the U.S. are football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer.
Consider some of these facts and figures about America’s obsession with sports and the many ways that we find to cheer on the teams that we love in person, not just from our living room recliners:
- More than 70% of survey respondents follow college basketball at least occasionally, according to a Statista survey.
- 37% of U.S. adults indicate that football is their favorite sport to watch, which makes it by far the most for any sport. In contrast, with only 9% saying it is their favorite sport to watch, baseball is at its lowest point ever.
- Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia are the only five U.S. cities with all four major sports: Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, and National Hockey League.
- The NCAA generated $820 million in revenue from television and marketing rights fees in its 2017 financial year.
- Almost 31 million people attended a college sports event in 2017, according to a Statista survey.
- By the end of the year 2020, it is estimated that the North American sports industry will be worth upwards of $74 million.
Whether you are traveling for your girlfriend’s sister’s high school graduation or you are looking for a way to make sure that you cross a few dream sporting venues off you list, it you do enough planning you can likely take in a number of sporting events. From the more expensive World Cup packages to the local college baseball teams, it there is a will there is a way to be an in person fan!